Review: Thief's Covenant

Thief's Covenant (Widdershins #1) by Ari Marmell
Release Date ~ February 14, 2012
PYR ~ Prometheus Books
ISBN13: 9781616145
Review copy received from publisher
Goodreads Synopsis:
Once she was Adrienne Satti. An orphan of Davillon, she had somehow escaped destitution and climbed to the ranks of the city’s aristocracy in a rags-to-riches story straight from an ancient fairy tale. Until one horrid night, when a conspiracy of forces—human and other—stole it all away in a flurry of blood and murder.

Today she is Widdershins, a thief making her way through Davillon’s underbelly with a sharp blade, a sharper wit, and the mystical aid of Olgun, a foreign god with no other worshippers but Widdershins herself. It’s not a great life, certainly nothing compared to the one she once had, but it’s hers.

But now, in the midst of Davillon’s political turmoil, an array of hands are once again rising up against her, prepared to tear down all that she’s built. The City Guard wants her in prison. Members of her own Guild want her dead. And something horrid, something dark, something ancient is reaching out for her, a past that refuses to let her go. Widdershins and Olgun are going to find answers, and justice, for what happened to her—but only if those who almost destroyed her in those years gone by don’t finish the job first.
Fantasy books were my first love; they were the books which originally drew my attention to books, and the main reason I became so involved wtih reading. Unfortunately for me, I've found it difficult to find fantasy books I thoroughly enjoy, especially those that fit the YA genre.
Thief's Covenant is an astounding and charming fantasy book; it's a very well-written and enjoyable story featuring amiable characters and an engaging storyline. This is a new favourite of mine, and I'm eagerly anticipating the time when I can read the sequel! Although it's relatively unknown, this is one YA book that shouldn't be ignored by fantasy fans!

1. Talented writing:
   Ari Marmell is no stranger to writing or publishing, with a number of works under his belt already. But his venture into the YA world deserves high praise and I'm hoping to see more from him in the future. The way he writes the story of Widdershins is mesmerizing, and his ability to tell the story from a number of perspectives deserves applause. I was most impressed with his skill to incorporate both humour and horror in the story, making it an excellent, multi-faceted story.
2. Creative world development:
   Easily one of my favourite parts of the book, I enjoyed discovering more about the world Ari had creatively written about in Thief's Covenant. It was nearly reminiscent of Tamora Pierce's Tortall and one that was rich in details and history, one that came across as being very real yet magical at the same time.
3. A captivating heroine:
   Widdershins is a phenomenal heroine to read about, and the perfect main character for a fantasy novel. She's clever and precocious, and has that sort of instant charm that's hard to come by as a book character. It takes a special kind of story and writer to create this type of character that really sticks with you, and Widdershins will easiliy find her way into your heart.
   
4. An exhilerating plot:
   The way the story is told in Thief's Covenant, involves a few chronological timelines which jump around back and forth a bit. Although it was a bit confusing at first to keep the details straight, it actually worked as an effective way to gradually reveal the background to Widdershins' story and retain some of the mystery. Plus, there's a good amount of action and adventure to keep your fingers glued to the pages, trying to find out what happens.

This is definitely an author, and book series, to watch. It's stimulating and thrilling story, one that is soon to be a new favourite for many readers.

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